The NFL logo is pictured at an event in the Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, the United States, on November 30, 2017. REUTERS / Carlo Allegri
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), DeMaurice Smith, rebuked players who attended group training sessions on Sunday, saying they were unsure as COVID-19 cases continued to increase in the U.S.
The union’s chief medical officer had previously said that players should avoid practicing together, but top players, including quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Tom Brady, have posted pictures and videos on social media that show they are last Week disregarded the advice and practiced with teammates.
“These practices are not in the best interests of player safety,” NFLPA executive director Smith told USA Today’s SportsPulse program.
“They are not in the best interest of protecting our players on the way to the training camp and I do not think they are in the best interest that we can survive an entire season.”
The league has not specifically banned private group training, but Smith said they have the potential to complicate the negotiation between the player group and the NFL as the two parties move forward in the COVID-19 era.
“We need to negotiate with the league about what will happen to a player if they test positive during the season,” said Smith.
“Is this player going into the injured reserve? Are you going on short-term IR? If you test positive for the virus after the training camp, is it a work-related injury?
“Anything players want to do in the off-season directly affects how well we can negotiate safeguards for them at the start of the season.”
The NFL pushed ahead with its plans to kick off the regular season on September 10, but last week had its NFL Hall of Fame exhibition game on August 6, the curtain up for the football season, postpone new corona virus.
Reporting by Amy Tennery; Edited by Ken Ferris
.
